MV H. Lee White
M/V H. Lee White is a diesel-powered Lake freighter owned and operated by the American Steamship Company (ASC). This vessel was built in 1974 at Bay Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and included self-unloading technology.
H. Lee White
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | MV H. Lee White |
Builder | Bay Shipbuilding Company[1] |
Yard number | 711[1][2] |
Completed | 1974[1] |
In service | June 1974[3] |
Identification |
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Status | In service as of 2015 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Lake freighter |
Tonnage | |
Length | |
Beam | 78 ft (24 m)[1] |
Draft | |
Propulsion | two 3500 HP General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) diesel engines, 7,000 SHP[3] |
The ship is 704 feet (215 m) long and 78 feet (24 m) wide, with a carrying capacity of 35,400 tons (at midsummer draft), limestone, grain, coal or iron ore.[3]
History
The ship was built for American Steamship in 1974 and was named H. Lee White for former chairman Harris Lee White.[3]
On September 6, 1992, H. Lee White struck the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge knocking off one of the spans. Damage to the bridge was around $1.7 million for repairs and lost toll revenue. Courts initially ruled the bridge company 100% liable as they did not open the bridge as promised. On appeal, the judgement was reversed and sent back to the district court for re-evaluation of liability.[4] In 2006, the ship and American Steamship were found 3% liable, as the port anchor could have been deployed to potentially avoid the collision. The bridge company was found 97% liable for not opening the bridge in a timely manner as promised and requested.[5]
References
- "Vessel Documentation Query". NOAA/US Coast Guard. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- Colton, Tim. "Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI". shipbuildinghistory.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03.
- "M/V H. Lee White". American Steamship.
- "Grosse Ile Bridge Company v. American Steamship Company". admiraltylawguide.com. September 9, 2002.
- Hood, Dennis (2006). "Grosse Ile Bridge Company v. American Steamship Company, Case No. 92-CV-76556-DT" (PDF). UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN, SOUTHERN DIVISION.